Ferguson College's Amhi Theatre, Pune. 150 years of legacy. A stage where Nobel Laureates have stood and delivered. The same walls that have witnessed some of the greatest minds of our time.
I am truly humbled to have been given the opportunity to speak here today.
And here I was — in front of teachers of DES, talking about NEP, AI, and the future of careers.
Some opportunities you don't just accept. You feel the weight of them.
Manthan — The Context
Manthan means churning. Like the ancient churning of the ocean to extract something of deep value.
That's exactly what this two-day workshop by Deccan Education Society was — churning the minds of junior teachers across DES institutions, so they can shape thousands of young futures with more clarity and intent.
I had the privilege of co-conducting the session with Amit Kulkarni, Council Member, Deccan Education Society.
Amit brought the NEP expertise — as a subject matter expert, he laid out exactly what NEP 2020 changes for students, institutions, and educators. Sharp, policy-grounded, and clear.
I picked up from there — the evolving role of the teacher. The shift every educator in that room needs to make.
From Sage on a Stage → Guide on the Side.
What NEP Actually Unlocks (And Why Teachers Must Know This First)
NEP 2020 in graduation is not a tweak. It's a structural overhaul.
Multiple Exit & Entry — 1 year = Certificate. 2 years = Diploma. 3 years = UG Degree. 4 years = Honours with Research. Students can pause, restart, switch. Credits never expire.
Major + Minor combinations — B. Sc. Physics + Minor in Business Studies. B. Com + Data Science subjects. Cross-stream by design, not exception.
No stream lock-in — Commerce student studying AI/ML. Science student choosing Psychology. All degree-recognized.
4-Year Honours + Research — BSc Honours → PhD directly. No separate PG needed. Game changer for serious students.
The cage is open. The teacher's job is to tell students the cage is open.
Intent matters more than intelligence.
I shared a personal example from my student days — a few empathetic words from my teachers completely changed my mindset and helped me stay focused on my studies.
They weren’t necessarily the most “intelligent” teachers in the academic sense.
But they genuinely cared. And that made all the difference.
An empathetic teacher can often sense what’s wrong just by looking at a student. They can step in with the right guidance at the right time — something no AI tool can truly replicate, because it lacks human context unless explicitly told.
Sage on a Stage → Guide on the Side
This is where I pushed hard.
The teacher's role has been quietly upgraded by NEP. You are now:
NEP Translator — explain changes in plain language, not policy jargon
Career Connector — link your subject to real-world careers and industries
Exposure Enabler — arrange college visits, alumni talks, workplace days
Choice Validator — help students confirm or challenge if their path fits their actual strengths
20% of every class is undecided. No direction. No mentor at home. That student is sitting in your class right now. Waiting.
One right conversation from a teacher changes a trajectory. One wrong assumption closes a door the student never knew existed.
AI — What Every Student Needs to Hear
The numbers are stark. WEF 2023: 85 million jobs disrupted by AI by 2027. 97 million new AI-related roles created. 40% of current skills outdated.
AI Literacy is not a Computer Science topic. It's a life skill — for Science, Commerce, and Arts students alike. Prompt thinking. Data interpretation. Critical evaluation. And the human skills AI can never replace: Empathy, Creativity, Ethical judgment.
The teacher who explains this to students today? Unforgettable.
Gratitude
A heartfelt thank you to the DES organizers who built Manthan with such intent.
And a special thank you to Amit Kulkarni for the invitation, for the trust, and for giving me this opportunity to speak at one of Pune's most esteemed stages. Amit, your clarity on NEP set the perfect foundation. It was a privilege to co-present with you.
To Ferguson College's Amhi Theatre — some spaces carry weight. The kind that makes you want to say something worth remembering.
If you're a teacher or educator — what's the one conversation you wish someone had with you at 16? Drop it below. 👇
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First published on LinkedIn.